my hart doth bleed But since thy faithfull zeale lets me not hyde My crime if crime it be I will it reed Nor Prince nor pere it is whose loue hath gryde My feeble brest of late and launched this wound wyde Nor man it is nor other liuing wight For then some hope I might vnto me draw But th' only shade and semblant of a knight Whose shape or person yet I neuer saw Hath me subiected to loues cruell law The same one day as me misfortune led I in my fathers wondrous mirrhour saw And pleased with that seeming goodly-hed Vnwares the hidden hooke with baite I swallowed Sithens it hath infixed faster hold Within my bleeding bowels and so sore Now ranckleth in this same fraile fleshly mould That all mine entrailes flow with poysnous gore And th'vlcer groweth daily more and more Ne can my running sore find remedie Other then my hard fortune to deplore And languish as the leafe falne from the tree Till death make one end of my dayes and miserie Daughter said she what need ye be dismayd Or why make ye such Monster of your mind Of much more vncouth thing I was affrayd Of filthy lust contrarie vnto kind But this affection nothing straunge I find For who with reason can you aye reproue To loue the semblant pleasing most your mind And yield your heart whence ye cannot remoue No guilt in you but in the tyranny of loue Not so th' Arabian Myrrhe did set her mind Not so did Biblis spend her pining hart But lou'd their natiue flesh against all kind And to their purpose vsed wicked art Yet playd Pasiphaë a more mostrous part That lou'd a Bull and learnd a beast to bee Such shamefull lusts who loaths not which depart From course of nature and of modestie Sweet loue such lewdnes bands from his faire companie But thine my Deare welfare thy heart my deare Though strange beginning had yet fixed is On one that worthy may perhaps appeare And certes seemes bestowed not amis Ioy thereof haue thou and eternall blis With that vpleaning on her elbow weake Her alablasted brest she soft did kis Which all that while she felt to pant and quake As it an Earth-quake were at last she thus bespake Beldame your words doe worke me litle ease For though my loue be not so lewdly bent As those ye blame yet may it nought appease My raging smart ne ought my flame relent But rather doth my helpelesse griefe augment For they how euer shamefull and vnkind Yet did possesse their horrible intent Short end of sorrowes they thereby did find So was their fortune good though wicked were their mind But wicked fortune mine though mind be good Can haue no end nor hope of my desire But feed on shadowes whiles I die for food And like a shadow wexe whiles with entire Affection I doe languish and expire I fonder then Cephisus foolish child Who hauing vewed in a fountaine shere His face was with the loue thereof beguild I fonder loue a shade the bodie farre exild Nought like quoth she for that same wretched boy Was of himselfe the idle Paramoure Both loue and louer without hope of ioy For which he faded to a watry flowre But better fortune thine and better howre Which lou'st the shadow of a warlike knight No shadow but a bodie hath in powre That bodie wheresoeuer that it light May learned be by cyphers or by Magicke might But if thou may with reason yet represse The growing euill ere it strength haue got And thee abandond wholly doe possesse Against it strongly striue and yield thee not Till thou in open field adowne be smot But if the passion mayster thy fraile might So that needs loue or death must be thy lot Then I auow to thee by wrong or right To compasse thy desire and find that loued knight Her chearefull words much cheard the feeble spright Of the sicke virgin that her downe she layd In her warme bed to sleepe if that she might And the old-woman carefully displayd The clothes about her round with busie ayd So that at last a little creeping sleepe Surprisd her sense She therewith well apayd The drunken lampe downe in the oyle did steepe And set her by to watch and set her by to weepe Earely the morrow next before that day His ioyous face did to the world reueale They both vprose and tooke their readie way Vnto the Church their prayers to appeale With great deuotion and with litle zeale For the faire Damzell from the holy herse Her loue-sicke hart to other thoughts did steale And that old Dame said many an idle verse Out of her daughters hart fond fancies to reuerse Returned home the royall Infant fell Into her former fit for why no powre Nor guidance of her selfe in her did dwell But th' aged Nurse her calling to her bowre Had gathered Rew and Sauine and the flowre Of Camphara and Calamint and Dill All which she in a earthen Pot did poure And to the brim with Colt wood did it fill And many drops of milke and bloud through it did spill Then taking thrise three haires from off her head Them trebly breaded in a threefold lace And round about the pots mouth bound the thread And after hauing whispered a space Certaine sad words with hollow voice and bace She to the virgin said thrise said she it Come daughter come come spit vpon my face Spit thrise vpon me thrise vpon me spit Th'vneuen number for this businesse is most fit That sayd her round about she from her turnd She turned her contrarie to the Sunne Thrise she her turnd contrary and returnd All contrary for she the right did shunne And euer what she did was streight vndonne So thought she to vndoe her daughters loue But loue that is in gentle brest begonne No idle charmes so lightly may remoue That well can witnesse who by triall it does proue Ne ought it mote the noble Mayd auayle Ne slake the furie of her cruell flame But that she still did waste and still did wayle That through long laugour and hart-burning brame She shortly like a pyned ghost became Which long hath waited by the Stygian strond That when old Glauce saw for feare least blame Of her miscarriage should in her be fond She wist not how t' amend nor how it to withstond Cant. III. Merlin bewrayes to Britomart the state of Artegall And shewes the famous Progeny which from them springen shall MOst sacred fire that burnest mightily In liuing brests ykindled first aboue Emongst th' eternall spheres and lamping sky And thence pourd into men which men call Loue Not that same which doth base affections moue In brutish minds and filthy lust inflame But that sweet fit that doth true beautie loue And choseth vertue for his dearest Dame Whence spring all noble deeds and neuer dying fame Well did Antiquitie a God thee deeme That ouer mortall minds hast so great might To order them as best to thee doth seeme And
did lurke From all mens vew that none might her discoure Yet she might all men vew out of her bowre Great Ptolomaee it for his lemans sake Ybuilded all of glasse by Magicke powre And also it impregnable did make Yet when his loue was false he with a peaze it brake Such was the glassie globe that Merlin made And gaue vnto king Ryence for his gard That neuer foes his kingdome might inuade But he it knew at home before he hard Tydings thereof and so them still debar'd It was a famous Present for a Prince And worthy worke of infinite reward That treasons could bewray and foes conuince Happie this Realme had it remained euer since One day it fortuned faire Britomart Into her fathers closet to repayre For nothing he from her reseru'd apart Being his onely daughter and his hayre Where when she had espyed that mirrhour fayre Her selfe a while therein she vewd in vaine Tho her auizing of the vertues rare Which thereof spoken were she gan againe Her to be thinke of that mote to her selfe pertaine But as it falleth in the gentlest harts Imperious Loue hath highest set his throne And tyrannizeth in the bitter smarts Of them that to him buxome are and prone So thought this Mayd as maydens vse to done Whom fortune for her husband would allot Not that she lusted after any one For she was pure from blame of sinfull blot Yet wist her life at last must lincke in that same knot Eftsoones there was presented to her eye A comely knight all arm'd in complet wize Through whose bright ventayle lifted vp on hye His manly face that did his foes agrize And friends to termes of gentle truce entize Lookt foorth as Phoebus face out of the east Betwixt two shadie mountaines doth arize Portly his person was and much increast Through his Heroicke grace and honorable gest His crest was couered with a couchant Hound And all his armour seem'd of antique mould But woundrous massie and assured sound And round about yfretted all with gold In which there written was with cyphers old Achilles armes which Arthegall did win And on his shield enueloped seuenfold He bore a crowned litle Ermilin That deckt the azure field with her faire pouldred skin The Damzell well did vew his personage And like well ne further fastned not But went her way ne her vnguilty age Did weene vnwares that her vnlucky lot Lay hidden in the bottome of the pot Of hurt vnwift most daunger doth redound But the false Archer which that arrow shot So slyly that she did not feele the wound Did smyle full smoothly at her weetlesse wofull stound Thenceforth the feather in her loftie crest Ruffed of loue gan lowly to auaile And her proud portance and her princely gest With which she earst tryumphed now did quaile Sad solemne sowre and full of fancies fraile She woxe yet wist she neither how nor why She wist not silly Mayd what she did aile Yet wist she was not well at ease perdy Yet thought it was not loue but some melancholy So soone as Night had with her pallid hew Defast the beautie of the shining sky And reft from men the worlds desired vew She with her Nourse adowne to sleepe did lye But sleepe full farre away from her did fly In stead there of fad sighes and sorrowes deepe Kept watch and ward about her warily That nought she did but wayle and often steepe Her daintie couch with teares which closely she did weepe And if that any drop of slombring rest Did chaunce to still into her wearie spright When feeble nature felt her selfe opprest Streight way with dreames and with fantasticke sight Of dreadfull things the same was put to flight That oft out of her bed she did astart As one with vew of ghastly feends affright Tho gan she to renew her former smart And thinke of that faire visage written in her hart One night when she was tost with such vnrest Her aged Nurse whose name was Glauce hight Feeling her leape out of her loathed nest Betwixt her feeble armes her quickly keight And downe againe in her warme bed her dight Ah my deare daughter ah my dearest dread What vncouth fit said she what euill plight Hath thee opprest and with sad drearyhead Chaunged thy liuely cheare and liuing made thee dead For not of nought these suddeine ghastly feares All night afflict thy naturall repose And all the day when as thine equall peares Their fit disports with faire delight doe chose Thou in dull corners doest thy selfe inclose Ne tastest Princes pleasures ne doest spred Abroad thy fresh youthes fairest flowre but lose Both leafe and fruit both too vntimely shed As one in wilfull bale for euer buried The time that mortall men their weary cares Do lay away and all wilde beastes do rest And euery riuer eke his course forbeares Then doth this wicked euill thee infest And riue with thousand throbs thy thrilled brest Like an huge Aetn ' of deepe engulfed griefe Sorrow is heaped in thy hollow chest Whence forth it breakes in sighes and anguish rife As smoke and sulphure mingled with confused strife Aye me how much I feare least loue it bee But if that loue it be as sure I read By knowen signes and passions which I see Be it worthy of thy race and royall sead Then I auow by this most sacred head Of my deare foster child to ease thy griefe And win thy will Therefore away doe dread For death nor daunger from thy dew reliefe Shall me debarre tell me therefore my liefest liefe So hauing said her twixt her armes twaine She straightly straynd and colled tenderly And euery trembling ioynt and euery vaine She softly felt and rubbed busily To doe the frosen cold away to fly And her faire deawy eies with kisses deare She oft did bath and oft againe did dry And euer her importund not to feare To let the secret of her hart to her appeare The Damzell pauzd and then thus fearefully Ah Nurse what needeth thee to eke my paine Is not enough that I alone doe dye But it must doubled be with death of twaine For nought for me but death there doth remaine O daughter deare said she despaire no whit For neuer sore but might a salue obtaine That blinded God which hath ye blindly smit Another arrow hath your louers hart to hit But mine is not quoth she like others wound For which no reason can find remedy Was neuer such but mote the like be found Said she and though no reason may apply Salue to your sore yet loue can higher stye Then reasons reach and oft hath wonders donne But neither God of loue nor God of sky Can doe said she that which cannot be donne Things oft impossible quoth she seeme ere begonne These idle words said she doe nought asswage My stubborne smart but more annoyance breed For no no vsuall fire no vsuall rage It is ô Nurse which on my life doth feed And suckes the bloud which from
Till they againe returne backe by the hinder gate After that they againe returned beene They in that Gardin planted be againe And grow a fresh as they had neuer seene Fleshly corruption nor mortall paine Some thousand yeares so doen they there remaire And then of him are clad with other hew Or sent into the chaungefull world againe Till thither they returne where first they grew So like a wheele around they runne from old to new Ne needs there Gardiner to set or sow To plant of prune for of their owne accord All things as they created were doe grow And yet remember well the mightie word Which first was spoken by th' Almightie lord That bad them to increase and multiply Ne doe they need with water of the ford Or of the clouds to moysten their roots dry For in themselues eternall moisture they imply Infinite shapes of creatures there are bred And vncouth formes which none yet euer knew And euery sort is in a sundry bed Set by itselfe and ranckt in comely rew Some fit for reasonable soules t'indew Some made for beasts some made for birds to weare And all the fruitfull spawne of fishes hew In endlesse rancks along enraunged were That seem'd the Ocean could not containe them there Daily they grow and daily forth are sent Into the world it to replenish more Yet is the stocke not lessened nor spent But still remaines in euerlasting store As it at first created was of yore For in the wide wombe of the world there lyes In hatefull darkenesse and in deepe horrore An huge eternall Chaos which supplyes The substances of natures fruitfull progenyes All things from thence doe their first being fetch And borrow matter whereof they are made Which when as forme and feature it does ketch Becomes a bodie and doth then inuade The state of life out of the griefly shade That substance is eterne and bideth so Ne when the life decayes and forme does fade Doth it consume and into nothing go But chaunged is and often altred to and fro The subtance is not chaunged nor altered But th' only forme and outward fashion For euery substance is conditioned To change her hew and sundry formes to don Meet for her temper and complexion For formes are variable and decay By course of kind and by occasion And that faire flowre of beautie fades away As doth the lilly fresh before the sunny ray Great enimy to it and to all the rest That in the Gardin of Adonis springs Is wicked Time who with his scyth addrest Does mow the flowring herbes and goodly things And all their glory to the ground downe flings Where they doe wither and are fowly mard He flyes about and with his flaggy wings Beates downe both leaues and buds without regard Ne euer pittie may relent his malice hard Yet pittie often did the gods relent To see so faire things mard and spoyled quight And their great mother Venus did lament The losse of her deare brood her deare delight Her hart was pierst with pittie at the sight When walking through the Gardin them she spyde Yet no'te she find redresse for such despight For all that liues is subiect to that law All things decay in time and to their end do draw But were it not that Time their troubler is All that in this delightfull Gardin growes Should happie be and haue immortall blis For here all plentie and all pleasure flowes And sweet loue gentle fits emongst them throwes Without fell rancor or fond gealosie Franckly each paramour his leman knowes Each bird his mate ne any does enuie Their goodly meriment and gay felicitie There is continuall spring and haruest there Continuall both meeting at one time For both the boughes doe laughing blossomes beare And with fresh colours decke the wanton Prime And eke attonce the heauy trees they clime Which seeme to labour vnder their fruits lode The whiles the ioyous birdes make their pastime Emongst the shadie leaues their sweet abode And their true loues without suspition tell abrode Right in the middest of that Paradise There stood a stately Mount on whose round top A gloomy groue of mirtle trees did rise Whose shadie boughes sharpe steele did neuer lop Nor wicked beasts their tender buds did crop But like a girlond compassed the hight And from their fruitfull sides sweet gum did drop That all the ground with precious deaw bedight Threw forth most dainty odours most sweet delight And in the thickest couert of that shade There was a pleasant arbour not by art But of the trees owne inclination made Which knitting their rancke braunches part to part With wanton yuie twyne entrayld athwart And Eglantine and Caprifole emong Fashiond aboue within their inmost part That nether Phoebus beams could through thē throng Nor Aeolus sharp blast could worke them any wrong And all about grew euery sort of flowre To which sad louers were transformd of yore Fresh Hyacinthus Phoebus paramoure Foolish Narcisse that likes the watry shore Sad Amaranthus made a slowre but late Sad Amaranthus in whose purple gore Me seemes I see Amintas wretched fate To whom sweet Poets verse hath giuen endlesse date There wont faire Venus often to enjoy Her deare Adonis ioyous company And reape sweet pleasure of the wanton boy There yet some say in secret he does ly Lapped in flowres and pretious spycery By her hid from the world and from the skill Of Stygian Gods which doe her loue enuy But she her selfe when euer that she will Possesseth him and of his sweetnesse takes her fill And sooth it seemes they say for he may not For euer die and euer buried bee In balefull night where all things are forgot All be he subiect to mortalitie Yet is eterne in mutabilitie And by succession made perpetuall Transformed oft and chaunged diuerslie For him the Father of all formes they call Therefore needs mote he liue that liuing giues to all There now he liueth in eternall blis Ioying his goddesse and of her enioyd Ne feareth he henceforth that foe of his Which with his cruell tuske him deadly cloyd For that wilde Bore the which him once annoyd She firmely hath emprisoned for ay That her sweet loue his malice mote auoyd In a strong rocky Caue which is they say Hewen vnderneath that Mount that none him losen may There now he liues in euerlasting ioy With many of the Gods in company Which thither haunt and with the winged boy Sporting himselfe in safe felicity Who when he hath with spoiles and cruelty Ransackt the world and in the wofull harts Of many wretches set his triumphes hye Thither resorts and laying his sad darts Aside with faire Adonis playes his wanton parts And his true loue faire Psyche with him playes Faire Psyche to him lately reconcyld After long troubles and vnmeet vpbrayes With which his mother Venus her reuyld And eke himselfe her cruelly exyld But now in stedfast loue and happy state She with him liues and hath him borne a
was betraide Then gan she loudly cry and weepe and waile And that same Squire of treason to vpbraide But all in vaine her plaints might not preuaile Ne none there was to reskue her ne none to baile Then tooke he that same Dwarfe and him compeld To open vnto him the prison dore And forth to bring those thrals which there he held Thence forth were brought to him aboue a score Of Knights and Squires to him vnknowne afore All which he did from bitter bondage free And vnto former liberty restore Amongst the rest that Squire of low degree Came forth full weake and wan not like him selfe to bee Whom soone as faire Aemylia beheld And Placidas they both vnto him ran And him embracing fast betwixt them held Striuing to comfort him all that they can And kissing oft his visage pale and wan That faire Paeana them beholding both Gan both enuy and bitterly to ban Through iealous passion weeping inly wroth To see the sight perforce that both her eyes were loth But when a while they had together beene And diuersly conferred of their case She though full oft she both of them had seene Asunder yet not euer in one place Began to doubt when she them saw embrace Which was the captiue Squire she lou'd so deare Deceiued through great likenesse of their face For they so like in person did appeare That she vneath discerned whether whether weare And eke the Prince when as he them auized Their like resemblaunce much admired there And mazd how nature had so well disguized Her worke and counterfet her selfe so nere As if that by one patterne seene somewhere She had them made a paragone to be Or whether it through skill or errour were Thus gazing long at them much wondred he So did the other knights and Squires which him did see Then gan they ransacke that same Castle strong In which he found great store of hoorded threasure The which that tyrant gathered had by wrong And tortious powre without respect or measure Vpon all which the Briton Prince made seasure And afterwards continu'd there a while To rest him selfe and solace in soft pleasure Those weaker Ladies after weary toile To whom he did diuide part of his purchast spoile And for more ioy that captiue Lady faire The faire Paeana he enlarged free And by the rest did set in sumptuous chaire To feastand frollicke nathemore would she Shew gladsome countenaunce nor pleasaunt glee But grieued was for losse both of her sire And eke of Lordship with both land and fee But most she touched was with griefe entire For losse of her new loue the hope of her desire But her the Prince through his well wonted grace To better termes of myldnesse did entreat From that fowle rudenesse which did her deface And that same bitter corsiue which did eat Her tender heart and made refraine from meat He with good thewes and speaches well applyde Did mollifie and calme her raging heat For though she were most faire and goodly dyde Yet she it all did mar with cruelty and pride And for to shut vp all in friendly loue Sith loue was first the ground of all her griefe That trusty Squire he wisely well did moue Not to despise that dame which lou'd him liefe Till he had made of her some better priefe But to accept her to his wedded wife Thereto he offred for to make him chiefe Of all her land and lordship during life He yeelded and her tooke so stinted all their strife From that day forth in peace and ioyous blis They liu'd together long without debate Ne priuate iarre ne spite of enemis Could shake the safe assuraunce of their state And she whom Nature did so faire create That she mote match the fairest of her daies Yet with lewd loues and lust intemperate Had it defaste thenceforth reformd her waies That all men much admyrde her change and spake her praise Thus when the Prince had perfectly compylde These paires of friends in peace and setled rest Him selfe whose minde did trauell as with chylde Of his old loue conceau'd in secret brest Resolued to pursue his former guest And taking leaue of all with him did beare Faire Amoret whom Fortune by bequest Had left in his protection whileare Exchanged out of one into an other feare Feare of her safety did her not constraine For well she wist now in a mighty hond Her person late in perill did remaine Who able was all daungers to withstond But now in feare of shame she more did stond Seeing her selfe all soly succourlesse Left in the victors powre like vassall bond Whose will her weakenesse could no way represse In case his burning lust should breake into excesse But cause of feare sure had she none at all Of him who goodly learned had of yore The course of loose affection to forstall And lawlesse lust to rule with reasons lore That all the while he by his side her bore She was as safe as in a Sanctuary Thus many miles they two together wore To seeke their loues dispersed diuersly Yet neither shewed to other their hearts priuity At length they came whereas a troupe of Knights They saw together skirmishing as seemed Sixe they were all all full offell despight But foure of them the battell best beseemed That which of them was best mote not be deemed Those foure were they from whom false Florimell By Braggadochio lately was redeemed To weet sterne Druon and lewd Claribell Loue-lauish Blandamour and lustfull Paridell Druons delight was all in single life And vnto Ladies loue would lend no leasure The more was Claribell enraged rise With feruent flames and loued out of measure So eke lou'd Blandamour but yet at pleasure Would change his liking and new Lemans proue But Paridell of loue did make no threasure But lusted after all that him did moue So diuersly these foure disposed were to loue But those two other which beside them stoode Were Britomart and gentle Scudamour Who all the while beheld their wrathfull moode And wondred at their impacable stoure Whose like they neuer saw till that same houre So dreadfull strokes each did at other driue And laid on load with all their might and powre As if that euery dint the ghost would riue Out of their wretched corses and their liues depriue As when Dan AEolus in great displeasure For losse of his deare loue by Neptune hent Sends forth the winds out of his hidden threasure Vpon the sea to wreake his fell intent They breaking forth with rude vnruliment From all foure parts of heauen doe rage full sore And tosse the deepes and teare the firmament And all the world confound with wide vprore As if in stead thereof they Chaos would restore Cause of their discord and so fell debate Was for the loue of that same snowy maid Whome they had lost in Turneyment of late And seeking long to weet which way she straid Met here together where through lewd vpbraide Of Ate and Duessa
Colin clout should pipe as one most fit And Calidore should lead the ring as hee That most in Pastorellaes grace did sit Thereat frown'd Coridon and his lip closely bit But Calidore of courteous inclination Tooke Coridon and set him in his place That he should lead the daunce as was his fashion For Coridon could daunce and trimly trace And when as Pastorella him to grace Her flowry garlond tooke from her owne head And plast on his he did it soone displace And did it put on Coridons in stead Then Coridon woxe frollicke that earst seemed dead Another time when as they did dispose To practise games and maisteries to try They for their Iudge did Pastorella chose A garland was the meed of victory There Coridon forth stepping openly Did chalenge Calidore to wrestling game For he through long and perfect industry Therein well practisd was and in the same Thought sure t' auenge his grudge worke his foe great shame But Calidore he greatly did mistake For he was strong and mightily stiffe pight That with one fall his necke he almost brake And had he not vpon him fallen light His dearest ioynt he sure had broken quight Then was the oaken crowne by Pastorell Giuen to Calidore as his due right But he that did in courtesie excell Gaue it to Coridon and said he wonne it well Thus did the gentle knight himselfe abeare Amongst that rusticke rout in all his deeds That euen they the which his riuals were Could not maligne him but commend him needs For courtesie amongst the rudest breeds Good will and fauour So it surely wrought With this faire Mayd and in her mynde the seeds Of perfect loue did sow that last forth brought The fruite of ioy and blisse though long time dearely bought Thus Calidore continu'd there long time To winne the loue of the faire Pastorell Which hauing got he vsed without crime Or blamefull blot but menaged so well That he of all the rest which there did well Was fauoured and to her grace commended But what straunge fortunes vnto him befell Ere he attain'd the point by him intended Shall more conueniently in other place be ended Cant. X. Calidore sees the Graces daunce To Colins melody The whiles his Pastorell is led Into captiuity WHo now does follow the foule Blatant Beast Whilest Calidore does follow that faire Mayd Vnmyndfull of his vow and high beheast Which by the Faery Queene was on him layd That he should neuer leaue nor be delayd From chacing him till he had it attchieued But now entrapt of loue which him betrayd He mindeth more how he may be relieued With grace from her whose loue his heart hath sore engrieued That from henceforth he meanes no more to sew His former quest so full of toile and paine Another quest another game in vew He hath the guerdon of his loue to gaine With whom he myndes for euer to remaine And set his rest amongst the rusticke sort Rather then hunt still after shadowes vaine Of courtly fauour fed with light report Of euery blaste and sayling alwaies on the port Ne certes mote he greatly blamed be From so high step to stoupe vnto so low For who had tasted once as oft did he The happy peace which there doth ouerflow And prou'd the perfect pleasures which doe grow Amongst poore hyndes in hils in woods in dales Would neuer more delight in painted show Of such false blisse as there is set for stales T' entrap vnwary fooles in their eternall bales For what hath all that goodly glorious gaze Like to one sight which Calidore did vew The glaunce whereof their dimmed eies would daze That neuer more they should endure the shew Of that sunne-shine that makes them looke askew Ne ought in all that world of beauties rare Saue onely Glorianaes heauenly hew To which what can compare can it compare The which as commeth now by course I will declare One day as he did raunge the fields abroad Whilest his faire Pastorella was elsewhere He chaunst to come far from all people 's troad Vnto a place whose pleasaunce did appere To passe all others on the earth which were For all that euer was by natures skill Deuized to worke delight was gathered there And there by her were poured forth at fill As if this to adorne she all the rest did pill It was an hill plaste in an open plaine That round about was bordered with a wood Of matchlesse hight that seem'd th' earth to disdaine In which all trees of honour stately stood And did all winter as in sommer bud Spredding pauilions for the birds to bowre Which in their lower braunches sung aloud And in their tops the soring hauke did towre Sitting like King of fowles in maiesty and powre And at the foote thereof a gentle flud His siluer waues did softly tumble downe Vnmard with ragged mosse or filthy mud Ne mote wylde beastes ne mote the ruder clowne Thereto approch ne filth mote therein drowne But Nymphes and Faeries by the bancks did sit In the woods shade which did the waters crowne Keeping all noysome things away from it And to the waters fall tuning their accents fit And on the top thereof a spacious plaine Did spred it selfe to serue to all delight Either to daunce when they to daunce would faine Or else to course about their bases light Ne ought there wanted which for pleasure might Desired be or thence to banish bale So pleasauntly the hill with equall hight Did seeme to ouerlooke the lowly vale Therefore it rightly cleeped was mount Acidale They say that Venus when she did dispose Her selfe to pleasaunce vsed to resort Vnto this place and therein to repose And rest her selfe as in a gladsome port Or with the Graces there to play and sport That euen her owne Cytheron though in it She vsed most to keepe her royall court And in her soueraine Maiesty to sit She in regard hereof refusde and thought vnfit Vnto this place when as the Elfin Knight Approcht him seemed that the merry sound Of a shrill pipe he playing heard on hight And many feete fast thumping th'hollow ground That through the woods their Eccho did rebound He nigher drew to weete what mote it be There he a troupe of Ladies dauncing found Full merrily and making gladfull glee And in the midst a Shepheard piping he did see He durst not enter into th' open greene For dread of them vnwares to be descryde For breaking of their daunce if he were seene But in the couert of the wood did byde Beholding all yet of them vnespyde There he did see that pleased much his sight That euen he him selfe his eyes enuyde An hundred naked maidens lilly white All raunged in a ring and dauncing in delight All they without were raunged in a ring And daunced round but in the midst of them Three other Ladies did both daunce and sing The whilest the rest them round about did hemme And like a girlond did in compasse stemme And in the
swaynes which sat Keeping their fleecie flockes as they were hyred She sweetly heard complaine both how and what Her sonne had to them doen yet she did smile thereat But when in none of all these she him got She gan auize where else he mote him hyde At last she her bethought that she had not Yet sought the saluage woods and forrests wyde In which full many louely Nymphes abyde Mongst whom might be that he did closely lye Or that the loue of some of them him tyde For thy she thither cast her course t' apply To search the secret haunts of Dianes company Shortly vnto the wastefull woods she came Whereas she found the Goddesse with her crew After late chace of their embrewed game Sitting beside a fountaine in a rew Some of them washing with the liquid dew From off their dainty limbes the dustie sweat And soyle which did deforme their liuely hew Others lay shaded from the scorching heat The rest vpon her person gaue attendance great She hauing hong vpon a bough on high Her bow and painted quiuer had vnlaste Her siluer buskins from her nimble thigh And her lancke loynes vngirt and brests vnbraste After her heat the breathing cold to taste Her golden lockes that late in tresses bright Embreaded were for hindring of her haste Now loose about her shoulders hong vndight And were with sweet Ambrosia all be sprinckled light Soone as she Venus saw behind her backe She was asham'd to be so loose surprized And woxe halfe wroth against her damzels flacke That had nother thereof before auized But suffred her so carelesly disguized Be ouertaken Soone her garments loose Vpgath'ring in her bosome she comprized Well as she might and to the Goddesse rose Whiles all her Nymphes did like a girlond her enclose Goodly she gan faire Cytherea greet And shortly asked her what cause her brought Into that wildernesse for her vnmeet From her sweete bowres and beds with pleasures fraught That suddein change she strange aduenture thought To whom halfe weeping she thus answered That she her dearest sonne Cupido sought Who in his frowardnesse from her was fled That she repented sore to haue him angered Thereat Diana gan to smile in scorne Of her vaine plaint and to her scoffing sayd Great pittie sure that ye be so forlorne Of your gay sonne that giues ye so good ayd To your disports ill mote ye bene apayd But she was more engrieued and replide Faire sister ill beseemes it to vpbrayd A dolefull heart with so disdainfull pride The like that mine may be your paine another tide As you in woods and wanton wildernesse Your glory set to chace the saluage beasts So my delight is all in ioyfulnesse In beds in bowres in banckets and in feasts And ill becomes you with your loftie creasts To scorne the ioy that Ioue is glad to seeke We both are bound to follow heauens beheasts And tend our charges with obeisance meeke Spare gentle sister with reproch my paine to eeke And tell me if that ye my sonne haue heard To lurke emongst your Nymphes in secret wize Or keepe their cabins much I am affeard Least he like one of them him selfe disguize And turne his arrowes to their exercize So may he long himselfe full easie hide For he is faire and fresh in face and guize As any Nymph let not it be enuyde So saying euery Nymph full narrowly she eyde But Phoebe therewith sore was angered And sharply said Goe Dame goe seeke your boy Where you him lately left in Mars his bed He comes not here we scorne his foolish ioy Ne lend we leisure to his idle toy But if I catch him in this company By Stygian lake I vow whose sad annoy The Gods doe dread he dearely shall abye I le clip his wanton wings that he no more shall fly Whom when as Venus saw so sore displeased She inly sory was and gan relent What she had said so her she soone appeased With sugred words and gentle blandishment From which a fountaine from her sweet lips went And welled goodly forth that in short space She was well pleasd and forth her damzels sent Through all the woods to search from place to place If any tract of him or tydings they mote trace To search the God of loue her Nymphes she sent Throughout the wandring forrest euery where And after them her selfe eke with her went To seeke the fugitiue both farre and nere So long they sought till they arriued were In that same shadie couert whereas lay Faire Crysogone in slombry traunce whilere Who in her sleepe a wondrous thing to say Vnwares had borne two babes as faire as springing day Vnwares she them conceiu'd vnwares she bore She bore withouten paine that she conceiued Withouten pleasure ne her need implore Lucinaes aide which when they both perceiued They were through wonder nigh of sense bereaued And gazing each on other nought bespake At last they both agreed her seeming grieued Out of her heauy swowne not to awake But from her louing side the tender babes to take Vp they them tooke each one a babe vptooke And with them carried to be fostered Dame Phoebe to a Nymph her babe betooke To be vpbrought in perfect Maydenhed And of her selfe her name Belphoebe red But Venus hers hence farre away conuayd To be vpbrought in goodly womanhed And in her litle loues stead which was strayd Her Amoretta cald to comfort her dismayd She brought her to her ioyous Paradize Where most she wonnes whē she on earth does dwel So faire a place as Nature can deuize Whether in Paphos or Cytheron hill Or it in Gnidus be I wote not well But well I wote by tryall that this same All other pleasant places doth excell And called is by her lost louers name The Gardin of Adonis farre renowmd by fame In that same Gardin all the goodly flowres Wherewith dame Nature doth her beautifie And decks the girlonds of her paramoures Are fetcht there is the first seminarie Of all things that are borne to liue and die According to their kindes Long worke it were Here to account the endlesse pregenie Of all the weedes that bud and blossome there But so much as doth need must needs be counted here It sited was in fruitfull soyle of old And girt in with two walles on either side The one of yron the other of bright gold That none might thorough breake nor ouer-stride And double gates it had which opened wide By which both in and out men moten pas Th' one faire and fresh the other old and dride Old Genius the porter of them was Old Genius the which a double nature has He letteth in he letteth out to wend All that to come into the world desire A thousand thousand naked babes attend About him day and night which doe require That he with fleshly weedes would them attire Such as him list such as eternall fate Ordained hath he clothes with sinfull mire And sendeth forth to liue in mortall state
th' one was armed all in warlike wize Whom to be Paridell he did deuize And th' other all yclad in garments light Discolour'd like to womanish disguise He did resemble to his Ladie bright And euer his faint hart much earned at the sight And euer faine he towards them would goe But yet durst not for dread approchen nie But stood aloofe vnweeting what to doe Till that prickt forth with loues extremitie That is the father of foule gealosy He closely nearer crept the truth to weet But as he nigher drew he easily Might scerne that it was not his sweetest sweet Ne yet her Belamour the partner of his sheet But it was scornefull Braggadocchio That with his seruant Trompart houerd there Sith late he fled from his too earnest foe Whom such when as Malbecco spyed clere He turned backe and would haue fled arere Till Trompart ronning hastily him did stay And bad before his soueraine Lord appere That was him loth yet durst he not gainesay And comming him before low louted on the lay The Boaster at him sternely bent his browe As if he could haue kild him with his looke That to the ground him meekely made to bowe And awfull terror deepe into him strooke That euery member of his bodie quooke Said he thou man of nought what doest thou here Vnfitly furnisht with thy bag and booke Where I expected one with shield and spere To proue some deedes of armes vpon an equall pere The wretched man at his imperious speach Was all abasht and low prostrating said Good Sir let not my rudedesse be no breach Vnto your patience ne be ill ypaid For I vnwares this way by fortune straid A silly Pilgrim driuen to distresse That seeke a Lady There he suddein staid And did the rest with grieuous sighes suppresse While teares stood in his eies few drops of bitternesse What Ladie man said Trompart take good hart And tell thy griefe if any hidden lye Was neuer better time to shew thy smart Then now that noble succour is thee by That is the whole worlds commune remedy That chearefull word his weake hart much did cheare And with vaine hope his spirits faint supply That bold he said ô most redoubted Pere Vouchsafe with mild regard a wretches cace to heare Then sighing sore It is not long said hee Sith I enioyd the gentlest Dame aliue Of whom a knight no knight at all perdee But shame of all that doe for honor striue By treacherous deceipt did me depriue Through open outrage he her bore away And with fowle force vnto his will did driue Which all good knights that armes do beare this day Are bound for to reuenge and punish if they may And you most noble Lord that can and dare Redresse the wrong of miserable wight Cannot employ your most victorious speare In better quarrell then defence of right And for a Ladie gainst a faithlesse knight So shall your glory be aduaunced much And all faire Ladies magnifie your might And eke my selfe albe I simple such Your worthy paine shall well reward with guerdon rich With that out of his bouget forth he drew Great store of treasure therewith him to tempt But he on it lookt scornefully askew As much disdeigning to be so misdempt Or a war-monger to be basely nempt And said thy offers base I greatly loth And eke thy words vncourteous and vnkempt I tread in dust thee and thy money both That were it not for shame So turned from him wroth But Trompart that his maisters humor knew In lofty lookes to hide an humble mind Was inly tickled with that golden vew And in his eare him grounded close behind Yet stoupt he not but lay still in the wind Waiting aduauntage on the pray to sease Till Trompart lowly to the ground inclind Besought him his great courage to appease And pardon simple man that rash did him displease Bigge looking like a doughtie Doucepere At last he thus Thou clod of vilest clay I pardon yield and with thy rudenesse beare But weete henceforth that all that golden pray And all that else the vaine world vaunten may I loath as doung ne deeme my dew reward Fame is my meed and glory vertues pray But minds of mortall men are muchell mard And mou'd amisse with massie mucks vnmeet regard And more I graunt to thy great miserie Gratious respect thy wife shall backe be sent And that vile knight who euer that he bee Which hath thy Lady rest and knighthood shent By Sanglamort my sword whose deadly dent The bloud hath of so many thousands shed I sweare ere long shall dearely it repent Ne he twixt heauen and earth shall hide his hed But soone he shall be found and shortly doen be ded The foolish man thereat woxe wondrous blith As if the word so spoken were halfe donne And humbly thanked him a thousand sith That had from death to life him newly wonne Tho forth the Boaster marching braue begonne His stolen steed to thunder furiously As if he heauen and hell would ouerronne And all the world confound with cruelty That much Malbecco ioyed in his iollity Thus long they three together traueiled Through many a wood and many an vncouth way To seeke his wife that was farre wandered But those two sought nought but the present pray To weete the treasure which he did bewray On which their eies and harts were wholly set With purpose how they might it best betray For sith the houre that first he did them let The same behold therewith their keene desires were whet It fortuned as they together far'd They spide where Paridell came pricking fast Vpon the plaine the which himselfe prepar'd To giust with that braue straunger knight a cast As on aduenture by the way he past Alone he rode without his Paragone For hauing filcht her bels her vp he cast To the wide world and let her fly alone He nould be clogd So had he serued many one The gentle Lady loose at randon left The greene-wood long did walke and wander wide At wilde aduenture like a forlorne west Till on a day the Satyres her espide Straying alone withouten groome or guide Her vp they tooke and with them home her led With them as housewife euer to abide To milke their gotes and make them cheese and bred And euery one as commune good her handeled That shortly she Malbecco has forgot And eke Sir Paridell all were he deare Who from her went to seeke another lot And now by fortune was arriued here Where those two guilers with Malbecco were Soone as the oldman saw Sir Paridell He fainted and was almost dead with feare Ne word he had to speake his griefe to tell But to him louted low and greeted goodly well And after asked him for Hellenore I take no keepe of her said Paridell She wonneth in the forrest there before So forth he rode as his aduenture fell The whiles the Boaster from his loftie sell Faynd to alight something amisse to mend But
heauens hard direction That ye were runne so fondly far astray As for to lead your selfe vnto your owne decay Much was the man confounded in his mind Partly with shame and partly with dismay That all astonisht he him selfe did find And little had for his excuse to say But onely thus Most haplesse well ye may Me iustly terme that to this shame am brought And made the scorne of Knighthod this same day But who can scape what his owne fate hath wrought The worke of heauens will surpasseth humaine thought Right true but faulty men vse oftentimes To attribute their folly vnto fate And lay on heauen the guilt of their owne crimes But tell Sir Terpin ne let you amate Your misery how fell ye in this state Then sith ye needs quoth he will know my shame And all the ill which chaunst to me of late I shortly will to you rehearse the same In hope ye will not turne misfortune to my blame Being desirous as all Knights are woont Through hard aduentures deedes of armes to try And after fame and honour for to hunt I heard report that farre abrode did fly That a proud Amazon did late defy All the braue Knights that hold of Maidenhead And vnto them wrought all the villany That she could forge in her malicious head Which some hath put to shame and many done be dead The cause they say of this her cruell hate Is for the sake of Bellodant the bold To whom she bore most feruent loue of late And wooed him by all the waies she could But when she saw at last that he ne would For ought or nought be wonne vnto her will She turn'd her loue to hatred manifold And for his sake vow'd to doe all the ill Which she could doe to Knights which now she doth fulfill For all those Knights the which by force or guile She doth subdue she fowly doth entreate First she doth them of warlike armes despoile And cloth in womens weedes And then with threat Doth them compell to worke to earne their meat To spin to card to sew to wash to wring Ne doth she giue them other thing to eat But bread and water or like feeble thing Them to disable from reuenge aduenturing But if through stout disdaine of manly mind Any her proud obseruaunce will withstand Vppon that gibbet which is there behind She causeth them be hang'd vp out of hand In which condition I right now did stand For being ouercome by her in fight And put to that base seruice of her band I rather chose to die in lines despight Then lead that shamefull life vnworthy of a Knight How hight that Amazon sayd Artegall And where and how far hence does she abide Her name quoth he they Radigund doe call A Princesse of great powre and greater pride And Queene of Amazons in armes well tride And sundry battels which she hath atchieued With great successe that her hath glorifide And made her famous more then is belieued Ne would I it haue ween'd had I not late it prieued Now sure said he and by the faith that I To Maydenhead and noble knighthood owe I will not rest till I her might doe trie And venge the shame that she to Knights doth show Therefore Sir Terpin from you lightly throw This squalid weede the patterne of dispaire And wend with me that ye may see and know How Fortune will your ruin'd name repaire And knights of Maidenhead whose praise she would empaire With that like one that hopelesse was repry'ud From deathes dore at which he lately lay Those yron fetters wherewith he was gyu'd The badges ofreproch he threw away And nimbly did him dight to guide the way Vnto the dwelling of that Amazone Which was from thence not past a mile or tway A goodly citty and a mighty one The which of her owne name she called Radegone Where they arriuing by the watchmen were Descried streight who all the citty warned How that three warlike persons did appeare Of which the one him seem'd a Knight all armed And th' other two well likely to haue harmed Estsoones the people all to harnesse ran And like a sort of Bees in clusters swarmed Ere long their Queene her selfe halfe like a man Came forth into the rout and them t'array began And now the Knights being arriued neare Did beat vppon the gates to enter in And at the Porter skorning them so few Threw many threats if they the towne did win To teare his flesh in peeces for his sin Which when as Radigund there comming heard Her heart for rage did grate and teeth did grin She bad that streight the gates should be vnbard And to them way to make with weapons well prepard Soone as the gates were open to them set They pressed forward entraunce to haue made But in the middle way they were ymet With a sharpe showre of arrowes which them staid And better bad aduise ere they assaid Vnknowen perill of bold womens pride Then all that rout vppon them rudely laid And heaped strokes so fast on euery side And arrowes haild so thicke that they could not abide But Radigund her selfe when she espide Sir Terpin from her direfull doome acquit So cruell doile amongst her maides dauide T' auenge that shame they did on him commit All sodainely enflam'd with furious fit Like a fell Lionesse at him she flew And on his head-peece him so fiercely smit That to the ground him quite she ouerthrew Dismayd so with the stroke that he no colours knew Soone as she saw him on the ground to grouell She lightly to him leapt and in his necke Her proud foote setting at his head did leuell Weening at once her wrath on him to wreake And his contempt that did her iudg'ment breake As when a Beare hath seiz'd her cruell clawes Vppon the carkasse of some beast too weake Proudly stands ouer and a while doth pause To heare the piteous beast pleading her plaintiffe cause Whom when as Artegall in that distresse By chaunce beheld he left the bloudy slaughter In which he swam and ranne to his redresse There her assayling fiercely fresh he raught her Such an huge stroke that it of sence distraught her And had she not it warded warily It had depriu'd her mother of a daughter Nathlesse for all the powre she did apply It made her stagger oft and stare with ghastly eye Like to an Eagle in his kingly pride Soring through his wide Empire of the aire To weather his brode sailes by chaunce hath spide A Goshauke which hath seized for her share Vppon some fowle that should her feast prepare With dreadfull force he flies at her byliue That with his souce which none enduren dare Her from the quarrey he away doth driue And from her griping pounce the greedy prey doth riue But soone as she her sence recouer'd had She fiercely towards him her selfe gan dight Through vengeful wrath sdeignfull pride half mad For neuer had she suffred such despight But ere she could
vndertane to Gloriane But left his loue albe her strong request Faire Britomart in languor and vnrest And rode him selfe vppon his first intent Ne day nor night did euer idly rest Ne wight but onely Talus with him went The true guide of his way and vertuous gouernment So trauelling he chaunst far off to heed A Damzell flying on a palfrey fast Before two Knights that after her did speed With all their powre and her full fiercely chast In hope to haue her ouerhent at last Yet fled she fast and both them farre outwent Carried with wings of feare like fowle aghast With locks all loose and rayment all to rent And euer as she rode her eye was backeward bent Soone after these he saw another Knight That after those two former rode apace With speare in rest and prickt with all his might So ran they all as they had bene at bace They being chased that did others chase At length he saw the hindmost ouertake One of those two and force him turne his face How euer loth he were his way to slake Yet mote he algates now abide and answere make But th' other still pursu'd the fearefull Mayd Who still from him as fast away did flie Ne once for ought her speedy passage stayd Till that at length she did before her spie Sir Artegall to whom she streight did hie With gladfull hast in hope of him to get Succour against her greedy enimy Who seeing her approch gan forward set To saue her from her feare and him from force to let But he like hound full greedy of his pray Being impatient of impediment Continu'd still his course and by the way Thought with his speare him quight haue ouerwent So both together ylike felly bent Like fiercely met But Artegall was stronger And better skild in Tilt and Turnament And bore him quite out of his saddle longer Then two speares length So mischiefe ouermatcht the wronger And in his fall misfortune hm mistooke For on his head vnhappily he pight That his owne waight his necke asunder broke And left there dead Meane while the other Knight Defeated had the other faytour quight And all his bowels in his body brast Whom leauing there in that dispiteous plight He ran still on thinking to follow fast His other fellow Pagan which before him past In stead of whom finding there ready prest Sir Artegall without discretion He at him ran with ready speare in rest Who seeing him come still so fiercely on Against him made againe So both anon Together met and strongly either strooke And broke their speares yet neither has forgon His horses backe yet to and fro long shooke And tottred like two towres which through a tempest quooke But when againe they had recouered sence They drew their swords in mind to make amends For what their speares had fayld of their pretence Which when the Damzell who those deadly ends Of both her foes had seene and now her frends For her beginning a more fearefull fray She to them runnes in hast and her haire rends Crying to them their cruell hands to stay Vntill they both doe heare what she to them will say They stayd their hands when she thus gan to speake Ah gentle Knights what meane ye thus vnwise Vpon your selues anothers wrong to wreake I am the wrong'd whom ye did enterprise Both to redresse and both redrest likewise Witnesse the Paynims both whom ye may see There dead on ground What doe ye then deuise Of more reuenge if more then I am shee Which was the roote of all end your reuenge on mee Whom when they heard so say they lookt about To weete if it were true as she had told Where when they saw their foes dead out of doubt Eftsoones they gan their wrothfull hands to hold And Ventailes reare each other to behold Tho when as Artegall did Arthure vew So faire a creature and so wondrous bold He much admired both his heart and hew And touched with intire affection nigh him drew Saying sir Knight of pardon I you pray That all vnweeting haue you wrong'd thus sore Suffring my hand against my heart to stray Which if ye please forgiue I will therefore Yeeld for amends my selfe yours euermore Or what so penaunce shall by you be red To whom the Prince Certes me needeth more To craue the same whom errour so misled As that I did mistake the liuing for the ded But sith ye please that both our blames shall die Amends may for the trespasse soone be made Since neither is endamadg'd much thereby So can they both them selues full eath perswade To faire accordaunce and both faults to shade Either embracing other louingly And swearing faith to either on his blade Neuer thenceforth to nourish enmity But either others cause to maintaine mutually Then Artegall gan of the Prince enquire What were those knights which there on groūd were layd And had receiu'd their follies worthy hire And for what cause they chased so that Mayd Certes I wote not well the Prince then sayd But by aduenture found them faring so As by the way vnweetingly I strayd And lo the Damzell selfe whence all did grow Of whom we may at will the whole occasion know Then they that Damzell called to then nie And asked her what were those two her fone From whom she earst so fast away did flie And what was she her selfe so woe begone And for what cause pursu'd of them attone To whom she thus Then wote ye well that I Doe serue a Queene that not far hence doth wone A Princesse of great powre and maiestie Famous through all the world and honor'd far and nie Her name Mercilla most men vse to call That is a mayden Queene of high renowne For her great bounty knowen ouer all And soueraine grace with which her royall crowne She doth support and strongly beateth downe The malice of her foes which her enuy And at her happinesse do fret and frowne Yet she her selfe the more doth magnify And euen to her foes her mercies multiply Mongst many which maligne her happy state There is a mighty man which wonnes here by That with most fell despight and deadly hate Seekes to subuert her Crowne and dignity And all his powre doth thereunto apply And her good Knights of which so braue a band Serues her as any Princesse vnder sky He either spoiles if they against him stand Or to his part allures and bribeth vnder hand Ne him sufficeth all the wrong and ill Which he vnto her people does each day But that he seekes by traytrous traines to spill Her person and her sacred selfe to slay That ô ye heauens defend and turne away From her vnto the miscreant him selfe That neither hath religion nor fay But makes his God of his vngodly pelfe And Idols serues so let his Idols serue the Elfe To all which cruell tyranny they say He is prouokt and stird vp day and night By his bad wife that hight Adicia Who